Xiamen Five-Day Travel Plan

Xiamen is truly a city perfect for slow travel, where the salty sea breeze carries the fragrance of phoenix flowers, and around every corner, you can encounter the Nanyang-style red brick ancient houses. With a budget of 5,000 RMB, you can enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling five-day trip. Let me help you plan a detailed guide.

🌊 Xiamen Five-Day Travel Guide: Explore Egret Island on a 5,000 RMB Budget

✨ Highlights

· Mountain and Sea Artistic Stroll: The itinerary combines Xiamen’s coastal scenery with its artistic vibe. You can feel history among the international architecture on Gulangyu Island, cycle along Huandao Road chasing sunsets, and experience the mountain-sea health trail featured in "Reset."
· Minnan Cuisine Immersion: From street snacks to seafood feasts, carefully arranged experiences include the Eight Market Seafood Market, Zhongshan Road’s time-honored shops, and Zengcuoan Snack Street, with a "Red and Black List" for reference.
· High Cost-Performance Experience: The 5,000 RMB budget covers quality accommodation, specialty dining, major attraction tickets, and transportation. Money-saving tips include group ticket booking channels, free attractions, and food street selection strategies to avoid pitfalls.

📌 Basic Information

Best Travel Time: Spring and autumn in Xiamen (March-May / September-November) with pleasant weather. Summers are hot and may have typhoons; winters have strong sea winds. Budget Allocation (per person):

Item Cost (RMB) Notes
Accommodation 1000 4 nights, average 250/night
Dining 1000 Daily average 200, covering snacks and seafood
Transportation 800 Round-trip high-speed train/flight + local transport
Tickets & Activities 700 Gulangyu Island, Botanical Garden, sailing, and other attractions
Shopping & Others 1500 Souvenirs, emergencies, etc.
Total 5000

🗓️ Xiamen Five-Day Itinerary

```mermaid
flowchart TD
Trip[Xiamen Five-Day Itinerary]

subgraph Day1[Day 1: Arrive in Xiamen, Explore Artistic Atmosphere]
A1[Morning
**Arrive at Xiamen Gaoqi Airport/Train Station**
Take Airport Express or BRT to accommodation]
A2[Afternoon
**Pray at Nanputuo Temple**
**Stroll Xiamen University** (reservation required)]
A3[Evening
**Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street** night market for snacks]
A4[Accommodation
**Zhongshan Road** or **Zengcuoan** area]
end

subgraph Day2[Day 2: Gulangyu Island Charm and Coastal Sunset]
B1[Morning to Afternoon
**Gulangyu Island Day Tour**
Ferry to island - Sunlight Rock - Shuzhuang Garden - Longtou Road snacks]
B2[Evening
Return from **Gulangyu Island**
Dinner at **Zhongshan Road** or **Zengcuoan**]
B3[Night
Walk along **Baicheng Beach** or **Huangcuo Beach** (optional)]
end

subgraph Day3[Day 3: Huandao Road Cycling and Artistic Experience]
C1[Morning
**Cycle Huandao Road** (Baicheng Beach - Huangcuo Seaside)]
C2[Afternoon
**Hulishan Fortress** (optional)
Photo stop at **Shapowei Art West District**]
C3[Evening
Experience the lively atmosphere at **Zengcuoan Snack Street**]
end

subgraph Day4[Day 4: Minnan Culture Immersion and Sailing]
D1[Morning
**Jimei School Village**
See Dragon Boat Pond, Tan Kah Kee Memorial Hall]
D2[Afternoon
Experience the **Internet-famous Sea Metro** (Line 1)
**Wuyuan Bay Sailing** (group price)]
D3[Evening
Bargain and enjoy seafood at **Eight Market Seafood Market**]
end

subgraph Day5[Day 5: Nature Experience and Departure]
E1[Morning
**Xiamen Botanical Garden** (Rainforest World, Succulent Plant Area)]
E2[Afternoon
Buy souvenirs (recommended **Aji Zai Meat Pie**)
**Departure**]
end

Trip --> Day1
Trip --> Day2
Trip --> Day3
Trip --> Day4
Trip --> Day5
```

💡 Detailed Notes and Suggestions

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations

It is recommended to choose guesthouses or budget hotels near Zhongshan Road business district or Zengcuoan.

· Zhongshan Road: Transportation hub, convenient for food and shopping, suitable for short trips.
· Zengcuoan: Strong artistic atmosphere, close to Huandao Road, great for photo stops. When choosing guesthouses, avoid street-facing rooms for quieter nights; avoid guesthouses at Zengcuoan entrance, walk 200 meters inside for cheaper and quieter options.

🍜 Food Guide

Xiamen cuisine is rich; here are some recommendations and tips:

Category Recommended Dishes Recommended Shops or Locations Approximate Cost per Person
Special Snacks Satay noodles, fried five-spice, oyster omelet, landworm jelly, peanut soup, ma ci, taro dumplings Eight Market (A Jie Five-Spice, Zhu Ji Shredded Chicken), Zhongshan Road (Lianhuan Oyster Omelet, Yang Xiaoxian Desserts), Gulangyu (Shen’s Rice Rolls) 10-40 RMB
Seafood Salt and pepper shrimp mushrooms, steamed grouper, scallion oil sea snail slices, abalone sauce black tofu Jinjiagang Seafood Stall (Zhongshan Road branch), Drunken No.1 Seafood Stall, Eight Market (seafood cheaper 4-6 pm) 80-150 RMB
Minnan Cuisine Ginger duck, Tong’an fried crab, satay specialty, Tong’an braised pork Niuniu Old Xiamen Specialty (opposite Xiamen University), Didao Zan (good environment, suitable for banquets) 100-200 RMB

Food Tips:

· Take advantage of half-price snacks after 9:00 pm at Zengcuoan.
· When buying seafood at markets like Eight Market, beware of overcharging; choose stalls with fair scales and be cautious with processing shops.
· Avoid tourist traps like smoky ice cream, flower tea shops, and pre-cut fruit stalls in scenic areas.

🚌 Transportation

· Arrival in Xiamen:
· From airport to city: Choose the "Airport Express" bus (15 RMB) to save 50 RMB compared to taxis or take Metro Line 1.
· Train station: Xiamen Station is on the island and more convenient than Xiamen North Station (off-island).
· Local transportation:
· Bus/BRT: Extensive coverage, BRT fares 2-7 RMB, buses accept ride codes.
· Metro: Recommended to experience the "sea view metro" section of Line 1.
· Taxi/Ride-hailing: Starting fare 10 RMB, beware of scams; do not trust drivers recommending "island sightseeing cars" or "sea tours to Kinmen."
· Shared bikes: Best for cycling Huandao Road; remember sun protection.
Avoid Pitfalls:
· Beware of taxi drivers, seaside mascot photo scams, and pearl-opening sales pitches.
· Buy souvenirs (like meat pies, tea) at Zhongshan Road’s time-honored shops, cheaper than scenic spots.
· Free hand-drawn maps of Gulangyu are available after disembarking; no need to buy.
4. Others:
· Student IDs often get ticket discounts at many attractions.
· Nanputuo Temple offers free incense; do not photograph Buddha statues.
· Xiamen Botanical Garden is large; take the sightseeing bus and note the rainforest misting times (9:30-11:00, 14:30-16:00).

Hope this guide helps you better plan and enjoy your trip to Xiamen!